Multiple Copy Sales - Regional Publications

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Multiple Copy Sales [Print/Digital]

Copies purchased by a third party from the publisher, delivered and made available for pick up or receipt by consumers.

Principles

1. There must be a contractual arrangement between the final purchaser (third party) and the publisher or an intermediary

2. Copies are paid for by the final purchaser

3. The publisher must receive a positive financial contribution per copy

4. Copies distributed and made available for pick up or receipt by consumers

5. Claimed quantity should not exceed potential demand by the intended consumers

Requirements 

1. There must be a contractual arrangement between the final purchaser (third party) and the publisher or an intermediary

1. You must be able to provide evidence of the contractual arrangements between the final purchaser and the publisher and/or the intermediary (if applicable) including the issues, quantities to be supplied and price per copy.

2. You cannot claim sales of back issues.

Guidance Available

2. Copies are paid for by the final purchaser  

No additional requirements.

3. The publisher must receive a positive financial contribution per copy  

1. Either the final purchaser or intermediary (if applicable) must pay the publisher a net amount for the copies: 

1. 1. When calculating what price has been paid you must take into account:

      • Any reciprocal payments made by the publisher

      • Any reciprocal charges for goods or services made by the purchaser (or the intermediary if applicable) as part of the deal (for example: for distribution or marketing).

      • The value of any other goods or services provided free or discounted by the publisher (for example advertising or promotional messages).

   2. In the case of print airline and international rail copies, sold for distribution in secure areas airside and trackside, it is recognised that an authorised distribution company must be used. In this scenario:

      • If that distribution company is used as an intermediary to sell to the final purchaser, the publisher may not receive a net payment for the copies from the distribution company due to the payment of distribution charges. 

      • If a distributor pays a contractual entry fee to the final purchaser which is of a general basis and not specific to any specified group of publications or publishers then this will not be considered a reciprocal payment to be taken into account for ABC purposes. 

4. Copies distributed and made available for pick up or receipt by consumers

1. You must be able to demonstrate that the copies are distributed and made available for pick up or receipt by the intended consumers.

2. For a digital copy:

   1. You must be able to demonstrate distribution either by the copy being delivered to a consumer or the consumer being notified of the availability of the issue to access. 

   2. If distribution/notification is by email, you must exclude Hard Bounces (non-delivery notices typically measured up to 24 hours after being sent).

Guidance Available

5. Claimed quantity should not exceed potential demand by the intended consumers

No additional requirements.

Reporting

You will report Multiple Copy Sales as follows, which will be broken out on the ABC Certificate:

1. By print and digital copies, and by total average circulation over the period.

If you include Paid Multiple Copies of Sports Editions these must be included in the Editions Analysis

Guidance

G1. There must be a contractual arrangement between the final purchaser (third party) and the publisher or an intermediary

1. In relation to print airside and trackside copies:

   1. It is the publisher’s responsibility to ensure their distribution company will:

      • Provide evidence of distribution of the copies airside/trackside as detailed below

      • Understand and keep up to date with the requirements of the ABC Reporting Standards

      • Report the number of sold copies by issue for each ABC reporting period to the publisher

      • Provide access to the publisher’s circulation auditor to any records requested for the purpose of checking the accuracy of any claim or compliance with the Reporting Standards and byelaws

   2. The publisher can appoint a circulation auditor other than their main circulation auditor to audit airside or international rail copies but this appointment must be separate from the appointment of the main circulation auditor. This means that the airside/trackside copy auditor must report separately to the publisher and ABC, and will not report to the main circulation auditor.

   3. The publisher’s circulation auditor must have access to documentary evidence relevant to the deal between the final purchaser and any intermediary (if applicable). 

G4. Copies distributed and made available for pick up or receipt by consumers

1. Evidence of distribution of the print copies to the distribution company and onward to airside/trackside must be available. This will typically involve the distribution company maintaining a goods inwards and goods outwards recording system, with clearly documented management controls that:

   1. Is updated daily for planned and unplanned changes

   2. Is reconciled on a regular basis to resolve differences between goods in and goods out

   3. Identifies the newspapers and number of copies supplied to every distribution point

   4. Operates appropriate and effective quality assurance processes for ensuring that the newspapers and number of copies supplied to every point is correctly stated.

   5. If weaknesses in management controls are found during the audit work, the publication’s circulation auditor/ABC will inform the distributor and the publisher of defined improvements to be implemented and a timescale to ensure copies are still eligible for ABC purposes.